Last Minute Giftology

It's getting close to the holidays and there are plenty of us who haven't quite been able to make it out of the house to do the Christmas shopping. Happens every year, but not to worry! We were lucky enough to have a few of our items featured in Time Out New York's Gift Guide this year, and there are a multitude of fun and quirky ideas for last minute gift ideas. They've even come up with funny and surprisingly accurate titles for the gift categories, including "Gifts for the Dude-Bro Manly Man" and "For the Relative You Don't Relate to". Our Thomas Paul Luddite Platter, Picnic Backpack Set, and French Bull Ring Round Platter have all made it on the lists! The best part is you don't even have to leave home if you're busy running around getting everything else ready for the holidays. Gift shopping just got more exciting!

Branch Out

Get cozy next to the fire this winter and bring a rustic look to your holiday table. We love how Food Network Magazine has featured our Log Wedge Serving Board in a woodlandsy spread of the November issue. Best of all, the board is cut into 8 pie shaped pieces making it perfect for hosting that winter party! Pair it with our Silver Sapling Cocktail Flatware , sand cast from real twigs, to add a delicate and whimsical touch to the woodland theme and entertain away!

Vogue's 100 Spring Items For Under $100

There are lots of ways to know when spring had finally arrived. But our favorite has to be when Vogue releases they're picks for the Top 100 Spring Items Under $100 and share their favorite clothing, jewelry and home accessories for the new season. And we're honored to be a part of it this year! One of the items they've chosen is the Spun Bamboo Deep Bowl Set by Roost. (slide #15) We love that it's modern, sophisticated and environmentally conscious all at once. Which is exactly why we added it to our collection for spring. Have a look see! And for the complete slide show just click here.

Let Your Inner Interior Decorator Out

I've lost count of how many times I've rearranged my living room furniture- and then had to rearrange it again because something didn't fit right or looked weird. My wooden floors have started to look like a skating rink with all of the marks from dragging my couch back and forth. But no more! I've found an online interior design tool that is so awesome I'm actually using the word awesome to describe it. MyDeco has created a really user-friendly interior design program that allows you to choose from a host of home furnishings and basically design the room of your dreams in 3-D from wallpaper to throw pillows. It's so awesome, in fact, that even Design Within Reach is using it. 

In the past I've attempted to use Sweet Home 3D, a free interior design application that helps you place your furniture on a house 2D plan, with a 3D preview. It's a bit more technical and the imaging isn't as sophisticated but it can definitely help you avoid layout spacing issues. Give them both a try and see which you like better. And if anyone is willing to send us one of the 3D room designs they've create, we'd love to share it with everyone on the blog for inspiration! 

All Hail Polaroid

Instant Rainbow by Yumalum

I'm not sure if everyone is aware of Cool Hunting or their daily e-newsletter, but consider this your official notification. Go sign up now. They cover everything from art, to food, to culture and trends. And most everything they feature is, indeed, cool. Last week they did a piece on Welsh designer, Yumalum, and the release of his second poster in honor of beloved Polaroid. I'm a bit of color addict and I'm also one of the many people elated to see Polaroid making a comeback. So, I think I might need to add this poster to my current collection of Polaroid art. If you'd like to purchase this colorific print, go here. But if the poster is too large size for your space, you might consider these lovely (and smaller) Serigraph Polaroid Camera Prints. Or maybe ease your nostalgia with a Polaroid cast in white porcelain (both by Yellow Owl.) 

Serigraph Camera Prints by Yellow Owl

White Porcelain Polaroid Camera by Yellow Owl

Country Cool

I thought something looked familiar when I picked up the March issue of Country Living. And there it was, right on the front cover, the Thomas Paul Ostrich Pillow! I never thought I'd utter the words "beautiful ostrich." And then I saw this pillow. It's a super soft linen and the fun red fringe keeps it from feeling stuffy. And I really never thought it would look good sitting on a toile bedspread- but there it is! And it looks great, right? Did I mention it's on sale right now, too?http://www.seltzerstudios.com/Ostrich-Linen-Pillow-with-Fringe-p398.html

Where do you keep your love?

Quite often while we're packing up orders for customers I'll start to feel "gift envy" creeping over me. Someone will order this platter with those plates and I can't help but try and picture their dinner party. Or someone will order this pillow with that candle and these bookends and I find myself wondering what their family room looks like or guessing what color their couch is.

Luckily, every once in a while a customer throws me a bone and sends us a picture of how they ended up using an item they purchased on our site. And I love it!!! First, it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know when something leaves our shelves it's actually going to a "good home." But second, it's really inspiring! Everyone's style is unique and often times I find myself saying." Huh, I never would have thought of using _______ like that. But damn it looks good!" 

Well, this latest example really made me smile. A customer bought one of the Jonathan Adler "Love" jars and used it in a wedding. Perfect, right? Well, wait until you see the photos on Green Wedding Shoes, a completely wonderful and drool-worthy wedding blog. Scroll halfway down the post and you'll see it. Enjoy!